Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1887-08-19
WHO Is TO BLAINE!
Conflicting Evidence at the lnve stigation
ofthe Chat>worth Horror-The Station
Agent Might Have Averted the Disas.
ter.
CHArswoRrH, Aug. Is.

SHATsWORrH, Aug. Is.
Very conflicting evidence was brought out
yesterday i'll the investigation into the cause
of the recent railroad disaster at Chatsworth,
| Illinois, and with one exception those that
gave testimony believe that the railroad CON-
psny is directly responsible for the horror
Three witnesses of good repute testified that
they Informed Agent Marsh at Piper City OF
the glowing light near the bridge, and the
! latter's conduct is severely criticised. The
night OF the accident he went to prayer meet
ing, and although the excursion train was
not due until 10 o'clock, he left the meeting
half an hour before it closed On reaching
the depot his attention was called to a pecu-
liar light on the track by several prominent
residents of the place, who so impressed their
fears upon him that he decided 10 ascertain
by telegraph just where the excursion train
! was. A reply was received that it was AT
Weston, "a miles away, and 40 minutes late
at that point. There the resources of the
agent seem TO have been exhausted. He had
two hand cars and flat car, upon which he
could hsve gone to the burning bridge in 10
minutes, but he was either too Indifferent or
too unwise to give the matter second
thought. So the bridge burned, and the
train drew nearer aud nearer the fatal spot,
while the agent stretched himself out in his
chair and did nothing TO warn it of danger.
Had he even sent a message to the agent or
engineer at Cnatsworth notifying them that
there was suspicious light on the track the
catastrophe might have been averted, and
there would not have been sorrow and mourn
in nearly 800 houses today.
Yesterday afternoon. Agent Marsh pale
and careworn was put upon the stand. The
room was crowded and he WAS the observed
of all observers. Evidently he had been
posted, for what purposes may be conjectured.
This is his testimony:
He said that ON Wednesday morning he
received a message addressed to all section
toremen instructing them to go over their
entire sections and see that all bridges and
tracks were in good condition. This was to
be done the last thing at night before they
went home. Also another message addressed
to all switchmen and agents telling them to
take precautions to see that the switches were
in proper condition at night.
A resident named Wabuch called his at
tention to what he thought was a train com
ing. He could see nothing and laughed at it
and thought no more about it. He went in
and laid down.
He saw the fatal train stop at the hill, and
wondered what it meant, and mentioned the
fact to &. B. Plants, train dispatcher a:
Peoria, and went out two or three times and
still saw the light stationary. A few mo-
ments later the engine came up from the
wreck and the engineer shouted "My God
gather the people there's terrible wreck !"
Saw no burning or fire down the track on
Wednesday evening. Witness was carefully
cross-examined by the jury. He said that
he was at prayer meeting until $780, denied
point blank the sworn statements of Messrs
Madden, Jones and Clark that they called his
attention to a light in the west.
Many of the witnesses for the railroad
company were subpenaed, but did not ar
rive until late hour. Their testimony was
in favor of the company, who apparently
would like to have it appear that the bridge
was fred by bandits.